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INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to analyse survival and complications in patients undergoing surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx as a salvage procedure for recurrent tumours after radiotherapy.

METHODS
Between January 1990 and December 1998, 166 patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx were primarily treated by radiotherapy. Local failure occurred in 77 patients (46%). 57 (34%) underwent salvage surgery.

RESULTS
5-year survival for the 42 patients with carcinoma of the larynx was 60% and for the 15 patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx 20%. The overall rate of postsurgical complications was 33% in patients with laryngeal and 47% in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.

DISCUSSION
There are few data in the literature regarding the clinical outcome in patients whose tumours are not controlled by initial radiotherapy. Our results indicate that only in carefully selected cases is salvage surgery successful in treating radiation failure in hypopharyngeal cancer. In patients with carcinoma of the larynx salvage surgery is successful and the rate of postoperative complications acceptable.